Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My apologies for jumping the gun yesterday in paying tribute to our esteemed colleague Senator Norris. I join my colleagues in wishing him many more years in this House. He has been here for 30 years and seven months. To be the longest sitting Member of Seanad Éireann in the history of the State is a massive achievement. He is to be congratulated. I wish him many more years here. I have served here for quite a number of years with him. He has fought many cases for the underprivileged and he is a champion of the underdog throughout the country. People in this State recognise that. No matter where one goes, they say Senator Norris is in the Seanad and that they would like to meet him. When one is with Senator Norris, people always rush up to have their photograph taken with him or to speak to him. He is held in the highest esteem throughout the country.

Senator Norris participated in "Operation Transformation" along with the Leader of the House and a former Member of the House, the late Nicky McFadden, sister of Senator Gabrielle McFadden. It was a great contest.